Expert Urges Broad Fuel Tax Cuts Amid Surging Oil Prices
The user wants a short summary (1-2 sentences, 120-220 characters, max 240) for a news deck. The article is about an energy expert urging broad fuel tax cuts across all fuel categories amid high oil prices ($100-120/barrel), suggesting diff
Energy expert Prayuth Khamthip warns that global oil prices hovering at $100–120 per barrel force the government to adjust domestic retail prices. The critical challenge is how to broadly relieve the cost-of-living burden across all groups. If the government opts to cut fuel excise taxes, it should consider reducing all fuel categories rather than limiting relief to specific types, which could leave some consumers without benefits. Tax cuts can be designed at different rates — giving E20 gasohol and B20 diesel larger reductions while other fuels receive smaller cuts — to distribute benefits widely. "This isn't to oppose targeted assistance, but when retail fuel prices rise sharply, the government may need to accept some loss of tax revenue to provide more comprehensive relief," he said. Looking ahead one to two months, Prayuth sees room for prices to fall if Middle East tensions and the Russia–Ukraine war de-escalate. He notes U.S. political factors could influence the Trump administration's stance on Middle East conflicts. If both flashpoints ease, global oil could drop to around $90 per barrel, with a best-case scenario of $60–70. That would reduce domestic price pressure and potentially remove the need for continued excise tax cuts to prop up prices.
